The Spineless Wonders Festival
21st - 23rd August 2026
Russborough House & Park, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
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Russborough House & Park, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
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Invertopia isn't just a festival; it's a completely immersive weekend journey into the microcosmos. Step into an environment where the smallest things receive the biggest focus. We know that insects and invertebrates are the foundation of all ecosystems and we want to celebrate that by sharing our passion with you.
Join dozens of like-minded families as we explore the world of insects and invertebrates through walks, talks, workshops, hands-on activities, and engaging entertainment. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you won't regret attending.
With many of Ireland's top insect and invertebrate experts on-hand, no question will go unanswered by our amazing team of scientists, entomologists and invertebrate enthusiasts.
As many activities start early or finish late, we have camping on site and would love if you could join us for the entire weekend.
This festival will be a zero waste festival. Our budgeting (and ticket prices) assumes that you bring your waste home with you. We can provide you with trash bags.
This festival will be alcohol-free. We're not trying to wreck your buzz, but there are so many activities planned from dawn to dusk, with the kids as the main focus, we just think it makes sense.
Things may change. We are so far away from the festival that exact details (guests, timings, etc) may change as we move forward but the remit will remain the same. Provide a weekend of family-focused events, celebrating Ireland's insects and invertebrates.
This festival will take place subject to appropriate insurance being acquired. There are lots of moving parts, and we want to ensure that you are safe and covered for any eventuality. Risk assessments and event management plans are being actively worked on and will feed into the insurance application.
Arachnid & Amphibian Expert
VP Biodiversity & Climate Action, Trinity College
Entomologist (NBDC)
Exotic Invertebrates
SETU Carlow Lecturer
Artist (Danu Ceramics)
Creative Entomologist
Nature Hero & Wildlife Filmmaker
Fly Expert (Dipterist)
Irish Entomological Network
Multidisciplinary Artist
Horticulturist
Multidisciplinary Artist
More Special Guests...
Campsite settling in and initial exploration of the festival area.
Join Dr Esmeralda Herrero (SETU Carlow) to explore insects raised for food and feed. Discover their lifecycles, unique characteristics, and why they matter for our planet. There's also a chance to get up close, and meet these creepy crawlies in person. [Main Tent]
We all have to start somewhere, and this is where we will officially kick off Ireland's first-ever festival dedicated to insects and invertebrates. I wonder if we might have any special guests turn up on the day... [Main Tent]
We want you and your kids to tell us all about your favourite bugs. Collie and Brian will give you lots of insight into them and maybe drop a few wonderful facts that you didn't know. [Main Tent]
Less than an hour after sunset, we will walk the estate, learning about all the insects, invertebrates and other creatures who make the night their home. Join Brian Murray and Collie Ennis as they take you on this guided tour of the Russborough grounds.
Join us as we open the moth traps that were set overnight. If the weather was agreeable, there is a lot of potential to have anything from dozens to hundreds of moths to show off and learn about. [Main Tent]
Overseen by multidisciplinary artist, Róisín Blade, if any of the kids need a break, we have a wonderful group of volunteers who will spend the day in the drop-in area, working with you and your kids to create something very special that you can take home with you. [Main Tent]
Artist Enagh Farrell will teach kids about our wonderful native pollinators, in an appropiately named art workshop. [The Chrysalis Tent]
Here, Owen Beckett of the National Biodiversity Data Centre will take families through the reasons why it is so important to record everything you see, and share some tips and tricks on how to be the best Biological Recorder you can be! [Main Tent]
Three separate hour-long workshops to cater for all attendees. In this workshop we will teach the attendees how to build different types of bee hotels (and hopefully create one to take home), how to build a hoverfly lagoon, how to build a butterfly winter refuge, how to make a small pond, and more... [Main Tent]
Step into the secret world of woodlice with a session that's part game, part detective work. Test your knowledge with an interactive true-or-false quiz on the weird and wonderful lives of these underrated crustaceans, then get creative designing your own woodlouse. Head outside to sieve leaf litter and dead wood for real specimens, and use identification charts to work out which species you've found. Fun for all ages, and a proper introduction to some of Ireland's most overlooked garden residents. [The Chrysalis Tent]
The Happy Bugs Zoo team will set up their mobile invertebrate zoo for us in the main Russborough House. Numbers will be limited per session for health and safety reasons, but don't worry, everyone will get to see these wonderful guests. [Russborough Cinema Room]
The Happy Bugs Zoo team will set up their mobile invertebrate zoo for us in the main Russborough House. Numbers will be limited per session for health and safety reasons, but don't worry, everyone will get to see these wonderful guests. [Russborough Cinema Room]
Beginning with a quick introduction to some of our most common invertebrates, families will then divide up with BioBlitz leaders and travel the estate looking to catch and record as many invertebrate species as possible within the 3-hour time frame. All of this will be overseen by the National Biodiversity Data Centre's Insect Officer, Owen Beckett and a panel of very knowledgable experts. [Main Tent]
A hands-on workshop exploring how insects experience their surroundings through senses very different from our own. Build an insect soundscape from recycled materials, mimicking the clicks, buzzes and rasps insects use to communicate, then join a caterpillar conga line to get a feel for how these creatures move. Put your nose to the test guessing which foods certain insects are said to smell like — did you know defensive bees can smell like bananas? — before meeting some resident woodlice up close. Finish with an identification challenge using charts and books, played like a game of Guess Who for the bug world. [The Chrysalis Tent]
Did you know Ireland is home to over 2,000 species of beetle? In this fun, hands-on workshop you'll discover some of these amazing mini beasts before painting your favourite onto a ceramic tile using special ceramic paints. Your tile will then be fired in Ruth's kiln at 1260°C, making it into a permanent piece of art to treasure. Finished tiles can be posted to you afterwards for a small additional fee. You'll also get to play with clay and create your own unique ceramic jewellery piece inspired by nature! Perfect for curious young artists, bug lovers and anyone who enjoys getting creative. [The Chrysalis Tent]
Make a happy tree person out of clay and other natural objects. Learn all about native trees. [The Chrysalis Tent]
Horticulturist Paul Galvin will talk to families about all of the wildflowers that we call weeds, and just how important they are for our native insects and invertebrates. [The Chrysalis Tent]
After some post-Bioblitz downtime, we invite all families to join us for a table quiz to test your knowledge of all things insect and invertebrate in a fun environment! [Main Tent]
Moths and other insects are often the base of the food pyramid for many other creatures. One such creature is the beautiful flying mammal, the bat. Members of Kildare Bat Group and Bat Conservation Ireland will join us to take us on a night walk, listening to the bats 'singing' as they move around the estate looking for food.
We will teach you and equip you with all the information and experience you need to be able to confidently record some of the most common woodlice in Ireland. A rare skill, and something you can boast to all your friends about! You can even go home, and Bioblitz your own back garden! [Main Tent]
Artist Enagh Farrell will teach kids how to use nature-sourced items, found all around us, to make beautiful and unique greeting cards for others. [Main Tent]
We will get some of the best scientists in the country to talk to you about Science Posters and hopefully inspire you to create your own. Then, we'll have them judge the posters looking for an overall winner! [Main Tent]
After an amazing weekend, it will be time to pack up and head home, full of new knowledge and fond memories! Remember, we are a zero-waste festival so we do need you to bring your rubbish home with you.
Invertopia will be held on the Russborough House Estate, near Blessington, County Wicklow, Ireland. This 200 acre estate has a mix of woodland, wetland, and grassland habitats, making it the perfect location for a festival celebrating insects and invertebrates.
We will have a parking area on site.
Unfortunately not. Parents or guardians must be with and supervise their children at all times and for all events. Children are naturally curious and could get into trouble without this required supervision. We will have access to all of Russborough's wonderful facilities, including their children's playground.
The festival is most likely to suit primary school-aged children. There are no age restrictions, but do look at the activities (and their durations) and determine if they are suitable for your child(ren) and their attention spans. It is not necessary for everyone to attend all events either. You can dip in and out of activities as you please.
Bring your camping gear, weather-appropriate clothing (it's Ireland, prepare for anything!), sun-screen, a reusable water bottle, and an open mind. Please avoid glass bottles and single-use plastics. Appropriate footwear is a must. The ground will be uneven in places and may be slippy. As much as we love insects, please also bring insect repellent, just in case.
We will create a safe cooking area for you away from the campsite. Blessington Village also has a host of take-aways that you can visit, we will provide take-away menus onsite. The boutique nature of this festival, coupled with larger festivals taking place nationwide, means that food trucks don't see us as a viable activity.
You may bring your own food but no alcohol. The festival is family-focused with kids as the main focus and with events running from early morning until late at night, we just don't think alcohol makes sense for this festival.